Sock drying form



March 20, 1951 A. J. LOUTZ 2,545,479

' SOCK DRYING FORM Filed Dec. '7, 1948 A1, BEE/Q7 L; $00 7:2,

IN V EN TOR.

IQTTOIQA/EY:

Patented Mar. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOCK DRYING FORM Albert L. Loutz, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 7, 1948, Serial No. 63,989

15 Claims. 1

My invention relates to forms upon which wet socks and more particularly wool socks are, after washing, adapted to be mounted in extended form to facilitate drying thereof. Such forms as heretofore made so hold the sock that when dried it is stretched out of its original shape and enlarged beyond its original size. In the drying process, particularly as with wool socks, there is considerable shrinkage. This results in imposing such tension on the heel and toe portions of the sock as to weaken and ultimately break the yarn threads, thereby shortening the usable life of the sock.

' It is a purpose of my invention to provide a drying form for socks which has the transverse and longitudinal contour of the foot and leg of the wearer so that when a, sock is mounted thereon it is held in that contour during the drying process, and thus such contour is preserved. In addition, the form is longitudinally contractible and extensible. In the contracted position it is of less length than the sock, and, hence, the sock when wet can be easily applied without subjecting the heel and toe portions of the sock to any distorting pull. While the form is in contracted position suitable clamps are employed to grip the sock at such points that upon moving the form to extended position to hold the sock in its original foot and leg length for drying, the heel and toe portions of the sock are secured against any stress or strain as a result of shrinkage, and, in consequence, there is no possibility of the threads of the heel or toe portions being weakened or broken as a result of the drying operation. Thus with my drying form, particularl a wool sock can be so held that when dried it has its original contour and size, and no part thereof is weakened as a result of the drying operation.

I will describe only one form of drying form for socks embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing in vertical section one form of drying formfor socks embodying my invention, and with a sock mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. a a

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the clamps of the form shown in Fig. 1.

F ig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of the adjusting strap.

Fig. '7 is a plan View of one of the plates embodied in the form shown in Fig. 1.

Having specific reference to the drawings, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a body designated generally at B which may be made of plastic, sheet metal, or any other suitable material. This body has the transverse and longitudinal contour of the human foot and the lower portion of the leg so that its exterior contour is such that when a sock is mounted thereon it will be held in. the same extended position as when on the human foot.

To allow free circulation of air through the form as well as through the sock, the body B is formed with perforations l5 and thus the drying of the sock is facilitated. The body is made in two longitudinal and identical parts which, when placed together at their confronting edges give the desired exterior contour. These body parts are secured one to the other by plates and screws as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The body B is made up of a main foot section It which transversely is of oval form, and tapered longitudinally from the heel end to the toe end e thereof. This section is formed integral with a heel section I1, and the latter in turn is integral with an angle and leg section it. At the forward end of the foot section [6 is a toe section :9 which is rounded at its free end and tapered to have a sliding telescopic fit within the forward end of the foot section. At the upper end of the section It is a supplemental leg section 20 of inverted cup form which telescopically and slidably receives the upper end of such section. Preferably, both sections is andill are tapered as illustrated.

The two halves of the toe section I9 are .secured one to the other by a plate 2| of oval form, and screws 22 extending through the toe section and into the edge of the plate. The two halves of the foot section it are secured one to the other by an oval shaped plate 23, and screws 24 extending through the halves and into the edge of the plate. The two halves of section it are secured one to the other by a lower plate 25 and screws 25, and an upper plate El and screws 28. This plate 2! abuts an annular shoulder 29 formed in the section It by reducing its diameter at this point. This shoulder also limits inward adjustment of the supplemental section 25. For the purpose of extending and retracting the toe section I!) in respect to the foot section it so as to increase or decrease the overall length of the foot section, I employ a strap 38 made of plastic or metal which is freely movable through slots 3| in the plates 23, 25, and 21, the forward end of the strap extending through the plate 2! where it is bent and riveted as at 32 to the forward side of the plate. The upper end portion of the strap extends through a slot 33 in the upper wall 34 of the section 20, and its projecting end is provided with a knob 35 adapted to be gripped for moving the strap longitudinally to extend and retract the toe section l9. This strap may be held inany longitudinal position of adjustment through a suitable latch 3t mounted on the wall 34 and having its latch bolt extended through any one of a series of openings 31 in the strap. Thus, the toe section i9 after anadjustment can be secured in such adjusted position.

It is desirable that the toe section .19 beheld against turning on the foot section for .the dual purpose of preventing twisting of the strap, and twisting of the toe portion of a sock when mounted thereon. The means for securing the .toe section i9 against turning is-shown as com prising a pin 38 fixed on the inner side-of the toe section, and aslot 39 formed in the fcot'sec- -.-tion l6 and in which the pin is movable with the toe .section so that in any longitudinal position of adjustment of-the toe section on the foot sectionthe toe section is held against'turning.

An identical .means is provided for securing the supplementalsection 2% against turning in the legsection 1.8 and yet allowing axial adjustment thereof therein, and for the same-purposes of preventing twisting .of the adjusting strapjiil ,and the upper .end of the leg portion .oi.a.sock

.when:mounted thereon. Here the legsection l8 is;formed with :a longitudinal slot 4% while the .section has a ,pin 46 fixed to its .inner side and movable inthe slot.

For adjusting thesection-ZEI axially in the-sec- .tion it andholding it in any position of adjustment I providea shaft 42 rotatable in the wall 34 but confined against axialmovement by a .pairof annular flanges 43 fixed on the shaft at opposite sides of the wall. Thisshaft is screw- :threaded as indicated at 44in a collar 45 formed centrally inthe-plate 2i, and itslower endhas a cotter pin 56 extending therethrough to prevent displacement of theshaftfrom the plate. The

upper and projecting end of the shaftdz has a knurled head 41 by which the shaft :can be manually turned-to adjust the section :20axially within the section I8.

To hold a sock on the form so that the heel and toe portions thereof are not stretched to a degree which might weaken or break the threads thereof, either under extended adjustmentof the sections l9 and 20, or under shrinkage of the sock when drying, and to secure these-ck in proper extendedp'osition thereon to maintain the original 'form .of the 'sock,' I provide a plurality of clamps preferably .four'in number and indicated 'at'C l'to C4 respectively.

The clamps are identical in construction exeept'as to shape of the bands, 'andeach com- ;pris'es a split band' l3 the free ends of which are bent outwardly to form ears 49 to'which the ends o'fa coiled contractile spring 50 are secured so as to construct the band. To receive the ovate band 18 of the clamp Cl a continuous groove 51 of U-form in cross sectionis'provided' in the toe section l9. Similarlythe band' lii for the clamp C2 is received in an annular and shouldered groovelii inthe bod-y B at the junction of the sections 'ISand l1, while the .band 48.01 the clamp ICS is received in -an annular shouldered groove .at Lthe junction .of the .heel and leg sections "torting pull. that the open end of the sock is extended over With the form .so shortened application of the sock is facilitated and without subjecting it and particularly the toe and heel portions to any dis- It will be understood, of course,

the toe section and then moved along the foot sectionandupwardly of the leg section until the .entiresock isfitted on the form as illustrated.

Following such application of the sock, the several clamps Cl, C2, etc. are applied in the respective grooves 51, 52, etc. thus firmly gripping the sock between the'bands ldandtheformesections at the corresponding locations along .its length. Now by pushing inwardly on theknob :35, after moving the latch 36 out of engagement 02 during this operation no ;pu11 .is .exerted.on

the toe portion or the heel section of the sock. ancl'thus the threads of .these portionsarenot subjected to any damaging stresses even .as .a

result of shrinkage when drying.

Upon rotation of the shaft in the proper.di-.- rection thesupplemental section Zilcanbe projected from the section 1-8, and with the .sock secured thereto bythe clamp .05, the-leg portion thereof is extendedlto itsoriginal length-andso held for drying. Such sock extensionimposes no strain on-the heel portion thereof .since the latter is held againstpulling by the clamp C3.

Once the form sections areextendedvas described the form with the sock thereonmay .be suspended from any support by a hook.55 secured to the wall (it-andas will beclear, the perforations l5 will allow circulationof-air through 13118 sock to accelerate drying thereof.

From the foregoing described use of my form it will be manifest that a sock may be held in extended contour for drying and-inits original size and shape without imposing any damaging stresses on the heel and-toe portions thereof, and thus when dried the soc-k is not shrunk-outnf shape or sizeas withprevious dryingforms.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of sock drying form-embodyingmy invent on. it is to be understood that various means at spaced points along-the length of :-said portions 2. 1A so ckdrying form including .ahollow-body having afoot ,portion and .-.a .leg portion, .hothgof which are axially extensible and retractible independently one of the other; means for moving and holding said portions in preselected positions of axial adjustment; and sock gripping means on said body at points to hold the toe and heel parts of a sock against stretching or shrinking during drying, and yet effecting stretching of the other parts of the sock under extensibility of said portions.

3. A sock drying form, including: a hollow body havin an axially extensible toe section and an axially extensible leg section; and means for adjustably extending said sections.

4. A sock drying form, including: a hollow body having an axially extensible toesection and an axially extensible leg section situated for operation at the free end of the leg section.

5. A sock drying form, including: a hollow body having a main foot section, a toe section telescoped on the main foot section, a heel section integral with the main foot section, a main leg section integral with the heel section, and a supplemental leg section telescoped on the main leg section; means for moving and holding the toe section in axial positions of adjustment on the main foot section; and means for moving and holding the supplemental section in axial -positions of adjustment on the main leg section.

6. A sock drying form as embodied in claim 5, wherein both of said means are situated for operation from the free end of the supplemental section.

7. A sock drying form, including: a hollow body having a main foot section, a toe section telescoped on the main foot section, a heel section integral with the main foot section, a main leg section integral with the heel section, and a supplemental leg section telescoped on the main leg section; means for moving and holding the toe section in axial positions of adjustment on the main foot section; means for moving and holding the supplemental section in axial positions of adjustment on the main leg sections; sock gripping means on the toe section; a second sock gripping means at the junction of the main foot section and the heel section; a third sock gripping means at the junction of the heel section and the main leg section; and a fourth sock gripping means on the supplemental section.

8. A sock drying form, including: a hollow body having a foot portion and a leg portion, both of which are axially extensible and retractible independently one of the other; means for moving and holding said portions in preselected positions of axial adjustment; and sock gripping means at spaced points along the length of said portions, each of said means including a split band, and a spring for constricting the band.

9. A sock drying form as embodied in claim "7, wherein each of said sock gripping means comprises a groove in the corresponding section, and a band in the groove having means for constricting the same to clamp the sock material in the groove.

10. A sock drying form, including: a hollow and perforated body having the contour of the foot and leg, and made in two longitudinal parts; plates within said body secured to said parts for holdin the latter in body form; said body having a main foot section, a main leg section, a toe section telescoped on the main foot section for longitudinal movement thereon; coacting means on said foot section and the toe section for securing the two sections against relative rotation; a supplemental leg section telescoped on the main leg section; coacting means on the last mentioned two sections for securing them against relative rotation; means for adjusting the toe section axially on the main foot section; and means for adjusting the supplemental section axially on the main leg section.

11. A sock drying form as embodied in claim 10, wherein said two adjusting means are situated for operation at the free end of the supplemental section.

12. A sock drying form as embodied in claim 11, wherein said two coactin means each comprise pin and slot connections between the respective sections.

13. A sock drying form as embodied in claim 10, wherein the adjusting means for the toe section includes a strap secured at one end to that plate in the toe section and movable through all of the other plates and the supplemental section, and a latch engaging the strap for holding it in any longitudinal position of adjustment.

14. A sock drying form, including a hollow body.

having an axially extensible toe section and an axially extensible leg section; means for adjustably extending said sections; and means for circumferentially holding a sock on said body so that under extension of the top section and the leg section the foot and leg portions of the sock can be extended without stretching the heel portion of the sock.

15. A sock drying form having a main foot section; a toe section axially adjustable on the main foot section; a main leg section; and a supplemental leg section axially adjustable on the main leg section; and means on certain of said sections for circumferentially gripping a sock so that when the toe section and the supplemental leg section are adjusted to extend said sections the foot and leg portions of the sock will be extended but stretching of the toe and heel portions of the sock will be prevented.

ALBERT L. LOUTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,302,617 Witherell May 6, 1919 1,806,727 White May 26, 1931 1,948,225 Myers et a1. Feb. 20, 1934 2,023,946 Ammon Dec. 10, 1935 

